APRIL 2013

MARCH 2013

.....  8th March - BBC investigation exposes cruel, murky world of carted deer hunting in Ulster

.....  3rd March - School pupils anti fox hunting film wins Festival screening

FEBRUARY 2013

..... 27th February - Parliamentary answer reveals tiny % of HA prosecutions against organised Hunts 

..... 27th February - Dyfed-Powys police identify pack responsible for A40 fox killing

..... 20th February - RSPCA badger sett case against Cheshire FH members fails

..... 18th February - Gruesome LACS pre-ban video shows why Hunting Act must stay

..... 16th February - Hounds savage fox to death on main road in Carmarthenshire

..... 14th February - Ashford Valley FH JM acquitted of attempted murder, GBH charges

..... 13th February - Fiona Vigar, Cattistock JM, dies after hunting accident

..... 13th February - North Yorks fox hunt causes alarm by hunting next to primary school  

..... 13th February - Labour MP attacks Government over 'tacit support' of hunt law-breaking

.....  7th February - Cattistock FH Field Master critically ill after hunting accident

.....  5th February - Benighted Heythrop FH suspends hunting after equine herpes outbreak

.....  4th February - Avon Vale FH 'Gang of Five' trial to start on May 6th

.....  3rd February - RSPCA vigorously defends and explains its Heythrop prosecution

JANUARY 2013

..... 30th January - Kent hunt master on trial for attempted murder of his former lover

..... 29th January - NT bans Heythrop from hunting on its land from end of season

..... 22nd January - RSPCA complains to PCC re. Telegraph 'smears' after Heythrop prosecution

.....  3rd January - Scottish Hunt accused of illegal killing of fox on Boxing Day

DECEMBER 2012

.....  9th December - Sir Patrick Moore, CBE - doughty anti-hunt campaigner - passes away

.....  8th December - Sabs claim film shows Old Surrey FH hunting fox and refusing to call off hounds 

.....  8th December - Sab ridden down by hunter at Tedworth FH - airlifted to hospital 

.....  7th December - Shocked resident sees North Ledbury hounds chasing fawn across his land 

.....  7th December - Assault on sabs case against Mid-Devon FH rider dropped by CPS

NOVEMBER 2012

..... 28th November - Horrific film of fox kill by Ledbury FH hounds in private garden released

..... 22nd November - 'Guardian angel' monitor rescues young vixen from jaws of Old Berks hounds

..... 22nd November - The hapless Ross Harriers trespass and chase pet cat up a tree

..... 20th November - Sanctuary owners claim they're being terrorised by South Coast fox hunt

..... 20th November - Some Somerset Hunts halted because of equine herpes virus

..... 17th November - N.Yorks policeman filmed explaining why he can't/won't enforce Hunting Act 

..... 16th November - IFAW announces their new 'enhanced' hunt monitoring operation is ready to go

..... 15th November - Ross Harriers JM/Huntsman convicted of racially abusing female sab

..... 14th November - RSPCA alerts public to illegal cub hunting in South West Wales 

..... 13th November - Former Beaufort FH kennelman wins suit blaming them for his hydatidosis

..... 10th November - Sabs claim Sussex hare hunt supporter threw decapitated rabbit at them

..... 5th November - Weston & Banwell JM/Huntsman denies illegal hunting, Trial set for April 2013

..... 3rd November - Beaufort FH hounds filmed chasing fox at their opening meet

..... 3rd November - South Shropshire FH JM Otis Ferry gets 3 year driving ban and fine

North Yorks policeman explains why he can't/won't enforce the Hunting Act 

IFAW announces new 'enhanced' hunt monitoring programme ready to go

 

16-11-12    IFAW website    [by Jorge Casmitjana, Campaigns and Enforcement Officer IFAW UK]  
November brings the dark spectre of fox hunting season, and with it new enhanced monitoring     Every year November brings something else to the British countryside than just darker evenings.... If you are a fox in an area where illegal foxhunting may take place, it also brings the dark spectre of the “hunting season”. It is not that foxes are safe before that, as the “cub hunting” season already started a few weeks earlier, allegedly to train young hounds to chase foxes, though hunts will deny that. They will say that since the Hunting Act 2004 was enacted, cub hunting does not happen anymore, and that during the hunting season no foxes are hunted by any organised hunt… unless “accidents” happen.
There have been several successful convictions on Hunting Act offences (over 180 already), but the number of allegations of illegal hunting made by members of the public and experts on the subject are far more numerous.   We believe that not enough of these have been investigated, and not enough illegal hunters have been prosecuted.  This is why, in 2005, International Fund for Animal Welfare, together with other like-minded organisations, decided to monitor hunts’ activities and gather evidence to help prosecutions.   This was essential as hunts were clearly defying the new law of the land, and in fact continue to do so whilst also calling for its repeal.  We have been “hunt monitoring” ever since, but we have seen slow progress by prosecuting agencies in taking the available evidence to its final conclusion.
In essence, we believe that the Hunting Act is not being enforced as it should.  Whether this is because neither the police nor the Crown Prosecution Service in the areas we operate are very enthusiastic about enforcing the Hunting Act, or for other reasons, the fact remains that whilst straightforward “monitoring” has had some success, we would like to see more and ultimately the eradication of illegal hunting.
This is why this season we decided to do something else: “Enhanced monitoring”.  By stepping up our hunt monitoring work, we are aiming to increase the number of prosecutions under the Hunting Act.  This means getting the latest State of the Art equipment, more cameras, and more people to operate them.  We are improving the way we present the evidence to those that have to take the case forward and are developing better evidence gathering techniques. We are also diversifying our team of Wildlife Crime Investigators, (which now includes ex-police officers, electronic engineers, professional investigators, wildlife crime experts, etc.) and are developing new tactics and strengthening our methods. We can already say that we have moved to the next level, and IFAW’s Enhanced Monitoring is a reality, not just an aspiration.
However, the logistics of our new team are far more complex and challenging and the whole operation is also more expensive. We are having to work longer, and work harder, still under the same harsh conditions of the British winter and the hostile environment created by the hunts and their supporters. This is what drives us: dedication, endurance, perseverance, and never forgetting who we are working for: for those foxes, deer and hares who are still chased and killed in the countryside, despite the fact that most of the nation has clearly decided that this should not happen anymore.

POWAperson says:-  POWA yields to none in its support and admiration for hunt monitors, who do a fantastic, arduous, usually frustrating,  frequently dangerous job, often for no reward.   So, it is great news that IFAW is beefing up its monitoring operations and we wish them safety  and success.
But, much as we would love to be proved wrong, it remains POWA's position that it is unlikely that the fanatics of the hunting community will be adequately restrained by more monitoring, or even an increased number of successful prosecutions. We still believe it necessary for the Hunting Act itself to be substantially strengthened and its sanctions enhanced, both to increase its deterrent effect and to make it easier to enforce.  We would therefore like to see the major anti-hunting organisations openly campaigning for this [though, clearly, the current Government would not grant it!].
And, much as we are loath to agree with the CA about anything, it would be nice if the 'Big Three' would stop disingenuously quoting the total number of Hunting Act convictions. We all know that the vast majority of these have indeed been for 'poaching type offences, which were already unlawful before the 2004 hunting 'ban'.  It is liable to give the impression that the Hunting Act has been far more effective in bringing transgressive organised Hunts to book than it actually has.

Ross Harriers JM/Huntsman convicted of racially abusing female sab
Second charge of using threatening words to another sab also proved

15-11-12   BBC News Online     Ross Harriers hunt master guilty of racially abusing protester    A hunt master has been found guilty at Hereford Magistrates' Court of racially abusing and threatening a protester.   David Lee Peters, from Coughton, Ross-on-Wye, was fined £720, and ordered to pay his victim £200 compensation.   The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the the offence took place on 7 January when the Ross Harriers Hunt met at Aston Crew in Herefordshire.   The CPS said 33-year-old Peters used "racially abusive words" to a protester who was sitting in her car.
Colin Molloy, from the CPS, said: "This type of language or behaviour will not and should not be tolerated by anyone." He said people from all communities had a right to be protected from "the prejudice at the root of racist or hate crime". Peters had denied charges of using threatening, abusive or insulting words and disorderly behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

The BBC story above omitted the most significant financial penalty, as Peters had to pay £2000 prosecution costs. This is not, though, a 'fine', as the Mirror piece below suggests.

16-11-12   Daily Mirror   Fined £3,000: Hunt master found guilty of hurling racist abuse at black protester     A hunt master was yesterday fined nearly £3,000 for calling a black protester a “f***ing w**”.  Ross Harriers hunt chief David Lee Peters, 33, launched the tirade at Hiba Hassan as she sat with a group of saboteurs in a 4x4 vehicle. At Hereford magistrates court, the married dad of one, from Ross-on-Wye, was convicted of racially aggravated harassment.  Witness Robert Muncey had said: “He yelled to riders behind, ‘They’ve got a f****** w** in here’.” 

16-11-12  Ledbury Reporter   Ross Harriers hunt master found guilty of racially abusing hunt protester    A HUNTSMAN has been found guilty of racially abusing a protestor at a hunt near Ross-on-Wye.   David Lee Peters, who is the master of the Ross Harriers Hunt, called a black woman “a wog” during a meet in Aston Crews in January. The 33-year-old, from Coughton, was also found guilty of using threatening words towards another protester at the same hunt........

POWAperson comments:  Peters' conviction for racist abuse illustrates the mind-set of hunters, which often seems replete with bigoted attitudes generally. Last December, Alan Morgan, the huntsman of the Cotswold Vale Farmers FH was similarly convicted of racially abusing a sab. Earlier this year, POWA Associate Judy Gilbert posted on YouTube a video of Heythrop FH supporter 'Jim French' spouting vile racist invective, including the 'n' word, during a meet.    POWA now has records of 311 persons from organised Hunts convicted or cautioned since 1990, having committed at least 440 offences between them.
In keeping with POWA's no censorship policy, the derogatory words and curses asterisked by the Mail in their report below of Day 1 of the trial have been replaced by the actual words used. No offence to any group or person is intended by this.

14-11-12   Daily Mail   Hunt master 'racially abused black anti-blood sports protester calling her a fucking wog'  - Master 'hurled abuse at "saboteurs" who attended meet to voice protest  -  Peters claims he was verbally abused and called 'Welsh sheep shagging cunt'   A Hunt Master hurled racist abuse at a black anti-blood sports protester, calling her a 'fucking wog', a court heard.   David Lee Peters [right, with police in January], 33, hurled insults at a group of ‘saboteurs’ who gathered in 4x4 vehicles to voice their protests at a meet in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, on January 7.   The married father-of-one - who is the master of the Ross Harriers hunt - went on to abuse protester Hiba Hassan and call her a fucking wog as he rode past on horseback, JPs were told.  A court heard Peters, also known as Lee, had called police to disperse the protesters who claimed they were monitoring for illegal hunting.  But he was arrested when the anti-hunting group told officers about the alleged racist slur.
Today Peters, from Ross-on-Wye, appeared before Hereford Magistrates Court charged with racially aggravated harassment.  Addressing him prosecutor Michael Taylor said: 'You tried to take a look inside the Land Rover. 'You even went to look in the back and when you saw a black person you shouted out "look there’s a fucking wog in there".  Presumably loud enough to impress the people behind you.'
Giving evidence Ms Hassan told the court she was on her first hunt protest and was left 'upset' by the insult.  She said: 'Mr Peters began banging on the Land Rover and shouting at us.  'I heard him say "you’re going to get it" and he called me a "wog" when he saw me.  He saw me and then he said "they’ve got a fucking wog in there". He was aggressive the whole way through. Everyone was in hearing distance. 'I felt very alienated and upset and shocked. I don’t think people use the word ‘wog’ in this day and age.  Less than an hour later the police officer approached me.  They asked me if I had any trouble and if I’d experienced any abusive behaviour from anyone and I said yes I had, I said the hunt master had been abusive towards me.  I was quite upset at the time.'
Witness Robert Muncey told the court he was tending to his garden when the incident occurred. He said:  'The lead rider crouched down as he came passed the Land Rover looking in the cab window.  He then crouched around by the back window.  He yelled out the following to the riders behind him: "Oh look, they’ve got a fucking wog in here".  It was said very loudly in a venomous manner.  I couldn’t believe what I had heard.  I really thought there was going to be trouble.'
Peters admitted shouting some threats towards the group as he passed them on horseback but denied using racist language.  Giving evidence he said:  'I was told that there were ‘sabs’ (saboteurs) present.  The information I had was that they had baseball bats.  I phoned the police and just told them the information I had.  As soon as you’re aware of saboteurs, it’s my duty as a master to inform the police.  We left the pub and went around the bend and there’s some saboteurs to my left hand side just parked up really.  I did not stop because I had the hounds around me.  And I didn’t say those words, I didn’t hear those words.  Then I retraced my steps back up the lane. I  got near enough to the top and one of the saboteurs made a grab for me and had me by the leg trying to get me off the horse.  He called me a "Welsh sheep-shagging cunt.".  I managed to dislodge him and carried on around the bend away from him.  I weren’t happy because he had tried to have me off the horse. He was running alongside me pointing at me.  I was threatening to keep him away from me.  It was a reaction I had because I was backed into a corner.'       Peters denies racially aggravated harassment. The trial continues.

The trial first day was also covered by the Daily Mirror.

 

 

RSPCA alerts public to illegal cub-hunting in South West Wales

15-11-12   Western Mail    Incidents of illegal fox cubbing reported to RSPCA officers Illegal hunting for juvenilefoxes could be taking place in parts of rural Wales, the RSPCA has warned.  Officers in West Wales have said several complaints have been made about cubbing – the hunting of young foxes to train foxhounds.  They say incidents have been reported in parts of Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire and have asked that people report suspected cases.  The Countryside Alliance said there was no evidence to support the claims and have pointed to a lack of arrests or cautions by police.
RSPCA inspector Keith Hogben said hunting juvenile foxes could be more difficult to detect than adult hunting as it tends to happen very early in the morning.  “One of the historical reasons behind ‘cubbing’ was to train fox hounds as juveniles are in theory easier to hunt than adults. In order to do this, the hounds were taken out at around 3am or 4am before the cubs have dispersed.  “I have had reports of it happening in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire and I want to remind people that this practice is illegal.”   He said in the last couple of months a number of alleged incidents had been flagged up in the region. While fox cubs are the main target , Mr Hogben said that very often a clearing in woodland is selected and other animals are hunted. It can be the case that any small animal in that area is used as a bait and hunting practice, along with the fox cubs.  It is an unpleasant form of training dogs and something the RSPCA wants to put an end to. The practice is entirely illegal under the Hunting Act 2004.”
The Countryside Alliance's hunting officer Adrian Simpson disputed the RSPCA’s warning and said there had not been a single arrest in West and South Wales since the ban on cubbing was introduced. He said: “These are spurious allegations. Trail hunts are legal and what hunts do. The police have not made an arrest since the ban came in and there has not been one prosecution. So I’d ask what evidence is there to say otherwise.”......

Pic above left is of 2 juvenile foxes, of the age likely to be victimised in cub hunting. They were released from Little Foxes Sanctuary, in Oxfordshire. The sanctuary is run by POWA Associate Penny Little.  Pic below right is of a young fox allegedly killed at a cubbing meet of the Essex and Suffolk FH in 2007.
 
14-11-12   Carmarthen Journal    RSPCA on alert after claims of rogue fox hunts   AN RSPCA inspector is urging the public to be aware of an illegal form of fox hunting he claims could be taking place in West Wales. Keith Hogben said he had recently received several complaints about cubbing — the hunting of young foxes to train foxhounds. Mr Hogben said: "I have had reports of it happening in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire and want to remind people that it is illegal."  However, the Countryside Council for Wales said there was no evidence to support the claims. Hunting officer Adrian Simpson said there had not been a single arrest across West and South Wales since the ban on cubbing was introduced.
Mr Hogben told the Journal this week: "It is often done early in the morning and is used to train young hounds."  He added in the last couple months a number of alleged incidents had been reported to him.  However, while fox cubs are the main target, Mr Hogben said that very often a clearing in woodland is selected and not just cubs are hunted.  He added: "It can be the case that any small animal in that area is used as a bait and hunting practice along with the fox cubs.  I want people who spot any such activity to contact the RSPCA immediately.  It is an unpleasant form of training dogs and something the RSPCA wants to put an end to. The practice is now illegal under the Hunting Act 2004."
The work being done by the RSPCA is being backed up by the animal welfare group West Wales Animal Aid.  Chairman David Petersen, of St Clears, said he was concerned about cubbing across the UK.  He said: "We in West Wales Animal Aid are determined that these cruel blood sports are exposed for what they are.  The young hounds are set onto known fox lairs where they scatter the young foxes and kill them, by ripping them apart."  Mr Petersen said he and members of West Wales Animal Aid were vigilant at this time of year and were echoing the RSPCA in trying to raise awareness with the general public.  He said as a group they tried to build up any evidence and work with the RSPCA and police.
Adrian Simpson said there was no evidence to support such claims, adding: "These are spurious allegations and the Countryside Council maintains that they are totally unfounded. Trail hunting is legal and what hunts do. The police have not made one arrest since the ban came in. There has not been one prosecution, so I'd ask what evidence there is to say otherwise?" Contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234999.

Note the mistake in the above article.  Adrian Simpson does not represent the Countryside Council for Wales,  which is the Welsh equivalent of the independent advisory body on the environment, Natural England.  After POWAperson pointed out to the CCW this misascription, which they said had also originally appeared in the Western Mail, he was told their Press Officer was 'hopping mad' about it and demanding an apology. The error was probably the newspaper's, though the CJ journalist concerned insisted to POWA that this was how Mr. Simpson had represented himself to him.     Simpson has been a CA spokesman for several years, but we believe he is the same person who, under the pseudonym 'Daegi' used to write extremely enthusiastic articles about terrier work for blood sport fanatic magazines such as Shooting News.  He was also one of the people arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice in 2008, in connection with Otis Ferry being charged with that offence.  Ferry spent four months on remand, but the CPS eventually decided to drop that case, so presumably the whole thing was another ghastly mistake by the forces of law and order.  Ferry was, however, convicted of causing fear, distress and upset to 2 female hunt monitors, reportedly avoiding conviction for robbery by maintaining he'd intended to return the video camera he'd snatched from the ladies.  Quite the gentleman, our Otis.

POWAperson adds:-   Cub-hunting is one of the vilest aspects of fox hunting, practised usually, and  secretively in the early morning, very difficult and potentially very dangerous to monitor or sab.  It is believed to be still widely practised, even in its traditional 'hold up' form, where a mix of new and experienced hounds are put into a covert known to contain foxes and the wood surrounded by riders and followers who try to turn back any foxes that attempt to escape.  The 'prestigious' Meynell & South Staffs FH were practising this form of cub-hunting when they were covertly filmed by hunt sabs, film that resulted in the conviction of their Chairman [precipitating his resignation] and a terrierman earlier this autumn. 

  

A Sussex hare hunt supporter threw decapitated rabbit at us, say sabs

South Downs Hunt sabs state that at the end of a day during which they had successfully prevented hunting, a supporter in a passing car threw a rabbit corpse at them. 

10-11-12   S.Downs Hunt Sabs blog    Local Hunt Saboteurs today converged on the ‘Brighton Storrington Surrey and North Sussex Beagles’ meet at the Balcombe Estate north of Haywards Heath. Beagle packs hunt hares and fall under the same laws which makes the hunting of foxes with hounds illegal. Unlike fox hunting however hare hunting with beagles is conducted on foot and looks much like a scaled down fox hunt.
From the get go the hunt looked guilty calling the hounds in and taking them for a short walk before calling the police and a few local ‘boys’ to encourage us off the land. However as they realised they would not be hunting today they continued to get more and more frustrated, with a supposed landlord’s agent shouting at and patronising police officers. Once a supposed agent had vented her frustration at police, the hunt eventually heading back to the meet where they called in a couple more ‘boys’ who turned up wearing masks and who might be linked to previous violence against groups at other local bloodsport meets.
Once the hunt had packed up and we were sure no hares would be killed today we left, however whilst chatting in a local car park a decapitated rabbit [right]was thrown at sabs from the window of a speeding small red car who rapidly exited. Actions such as these highlight the disrespect of hunts for wildlife and is a clear act of harassment as well as their frustration.

Four weeks ago, the Mail on Sunday  published an article implicating the Beaufort FH in the brutal slaughter of surplus bull calves at a dairy farm that supplied milk to Cadburys.  The calf corpses were taken away to feed hounds.[this is actually common practice all over the country].    On the morning of 3-11-12, the Mail published a multi-picture feature article about the Beaufort and their opening meet which was virtually an enconium to the Hunt, and which assured readers that they now only hunt 'trails'    That same afternoon,, sabs claim they witnessed at least two 'trails', looking remarkably like foxes, being chased by the Beaufort.  A film clip of hounds pursuing one furry red 'trail' was obtained.  Alas, the video evidence that could be gained would not be adequate to sustain a prosecution for illegal hunting.  There follows that monitor's account, then a PR issued by the HSA. The story was subsequently covered by a local paper [with video online].   

3-11-12    Events of the Duke of Beaufort’s Opening meet from Worcester Lodge, Badminton estate.     We observed proceedings throughout the day and were behind the hunt on foot at the start.   Due to low numbers we agreed that the best strategy was to keep a very low profile.   At 16.00 on the Didmarton to Sopworth road we were aware of hounds in full cry from Sopworth Brake.  Hounds ran straight to the village of Sopworth and were seen by us hunting a fox from thick undergrowth.  We rated them and made it clear to the hunt (who were a bit surprised) that we were anti-hunt, that we had the fox being hunted [left] on film and demanded that they call hounds [right] off.   The fox ran through the car supporters and to safety along the road towards Didmarton as the pack went back to hunt another fox through an old tin shed in thick undergrowth and on through the church and village.    We think that they found at Sopworth Brake, that the fox ran to the village and that a fresh fox (the one we helped who, on a wet day, was dry, fluffy and unmuddied) was put up [from cover], splitting the pack.      If the Beaufort hunt were following a trail as they claimed and as, indeed, the Daily Mail claimed how did they lay it through thick undergrowth, through detritus (i.e. tin shed) and then through a residential area?    We are certain that 2 foxes were being chased and that it was only our intervention which helped them escape.     We also are appalled at the naive acceptance by the Daily Mail of this Hunt's blatant falsehoods.    The Beaufort are known as a “premier” pack and acting as though the Hunting Act had never been passed. Meets are advertised both online and in Horse and Hound. 

4-11-12   HSA Press Release      Prestigious Beaufort Hunt chased filming a fox     Hunt saboteurs fiimed the Beaufort hunt illegally hunting a fox during their opening meet......  on Saturday.      The small group of saboteurs kept a low profile throughout the day's hunt until, near the end of the day, they saw the hounds in full cry, hunting a fox, near Sopworth village.    They attempted to call the hounds away from the fox and made it clear to the hunt that they had footage of the illegal hunting.    The fox ran through the car supporters and along the road to safety.   The pack picked up the scent of another fox which they hunted through an old tin shed in thick undergrowth and on through the village.      Lee Moon, spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, stated:   "If the Beaufort hunt were following a trail, as they claimed, then how and why did they lay it through thick undergrowth, underneath an old shed and then through a residential area?   We are certain that 2 foxes were being chased and it was only the intervention of our members which helped them escape.    The reality of a day out with the Beaufort is very different from that portrayed on the Daily Mail's website."

9-11-12   Wilts & Glos Standard      Hunt saboteurs' footage of Beaufort Hunt taking part in 'illegal fox hunting'   HUNT saboteurs have released video footage of what they claim shows illegal fox hunting by the renowned Beaufort Hunt on the weekend. Undercover monitors followed the hunt during their opening meet of the season at Worcester Lodge on the Badminton Estate.     The film, which can be viewed at the Standard’s website, shows the hounds chasing a fox across a field near the Cotswold village of Sopworth. A local hunting monitor, who did want to be named for "fear of retaliation", told the Standard: "Nobody tried to stop the hounds. We had to break our cover to call them off. If we hadn’t been there it would have been killed."      Beaufort hunt spokesman Jo Aldridge said some of the hounds had chased a fox during the hunt, but it was accidental after the fox had crossed the path of a trail, laid legally for the event. She said: "At that particular moment there wasn’t a member of hunt staff nearby, but they did call the hounds off as soon as they could."

 

South Shropshire FH JM Otis Ferry gets three-year driving ban and fine

3-11-12     Shropshire Star      Shropshire hunt master Otis Ferry banned from road for three years    Shropshire hunt master Otis Ferry [right] has been banned from driving for three years after appearing in court following an arrest on suspicion of drink-driving.    Ferry has also been ordered to pay a total of £415 in fines and costs after being found guilty of failing to provide a breath sample after the incident in London on January 23 this year. 

He appeared at West London Magistrates Court this week after a warrant was issued for his arrest last week, when he failed to attend the hearing at which he was found guilty in his absence by magistrates.  A spokesman for the court said the 29-year-old son of Roxy Music star Bryan Ferry, who was charged under the name Charles Frederick Ferry, had the opportunity to reduce the length of his driving ban if he sits a specialist motoring course. “He was fined and disqualified for three years from driving,” the spokesman said.    Ferry, master of the South Shropshire Hunt from Eaton Mascott, near Shrewsbury, was given a £200 fine, as well as being ordered to pay £200 court costs and a £15 victim surcharge.  He had been stopped by police in the Kensington area in January and failed a roadside breath test.    

Ferry was not available for comment today. In 2008 he spent four months in custody accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice in relation to an affray and assault case before the charges were dropped.   In 2004, Ferry was arrested for bursting into the House of Commons as a debate on the hunting bill took place.

 
POWAperson adds:-  Pity the Court couldn't ban him from riding a horse as well. As far as we know, Ferry has never killed anything while in charge of a motor vehicle.

 

 

OCTOBER 2012

..... 27th October - Southdown & Eridge FH supporters attack and injure sabs - supporter arrested

..... 27th October - Otis Ferry convicted of fail provide specimen after another drink driving arrest 

..... 27th October - POWA condemns 'sick' CA advice to Hunts to get schools to 'adopt' a hound 

..... 24th October - Ross Harriers supporter fined for assaults caught on camera 

..... 22nd October - Lush stores' fake fox hunts highlight low prioritisation of wildlife crime by police 

..... 11th October - Fox Hunts take fright at recent convictions and enhanced monitoring 

..... 8th October - Zetland FH being investigated by police for illegal fox hunting 

..... 7th October - Beaufort FH, dairy farm and Cadburys implicated in brutal bull calf slaughter 

..... 6th October - Sabs claim were assaulted by Rockwood Harriers - 7 injured, camera stolen 

..... 5th October - Cub-hunting convict Greenall resigns as Chairman of Meynell & S.Staffs FH

..... 2nd October - Hunts mobilised in desperate attempt to save Corby seat for the Conservatives

Southdown & Eridge FH mob attack & injure sabs, says HSA - hunter arrested

27-10-12   HSA Press Release      Hunt supporter Arrested after assault on Hunt  saboteurs    The Southdown and Eridge fox hunt [right, Boxing Day meet 2010] held its opening meet of the season at Firle, nr Lewes, East Sussex, today.  It was clear from the start that they intend to carry on their practice of flaunting the hunting ban and launching organised attacks against any who oppose them.
Slightly east of the meet the huntsman put up a fox and was encouraging the hounds onto the scent.  Before sabs were able to intervene they were subject to an unprovoked attacked by around 10 hunt supporters, the very same men who had been the perpetrators of similar attacks in the past two seasons. The attack left three hunt saboteurs with head wounds and severe bruising which resulted in hospitalisation and stiches.  Their attackers also stole a video camera and glasses.  Following these attacks the sabs were ridden at by members of the hunt, driven at by a car follower and then assaulted by the ‘hunt stewards' while attempting to seek medical treatment.  The police were called but said they could not take any action until statements had been taken.
The remaining sabs soon located the hunt on the South Downs, a national park, with the Huntsman off his horse clearly hunting.   Before video evidence could be gathered they were surrounded by four quad bikes carrying the same men who had carried out the earlier assault, and attacked again.  The police were once again called and eventually arrested one hunt supporter.
Lee Moon, spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, stated: "We are pleased that the police eventually arrested one hunt supporter however they should of acted decisively much earlier in the day. The South Down and Eridge should have realised by now that violence doesn't deter our members and in fact only makes them more determined to thwart their illegal activities."

Pic above left is one of two sabs allegedly attacked by a mob of S&E supporters in October 2009. Below is the story as covered by the local paper. It is rare for newspapers to carry accounts of hunter attacks on sabs, though the HSA sends them plenty.

30-10-12   Brighton Argus     Hunt saboteurs: 'Masked men attacked us'     An anti-foxhunting group claims its members were attacked by masked men for trying to spot animal cruelty. Police were called to clashes at the Southdown and Eridge Fox Hunt in Firle, near Lewes, on Saturday in which a number of people were hurt.   One man was arrested on suspicion of assault.  The Hunt Saboteurs Association said three of its supporters had to go to hospital to be treated for head wounds.  It also claimed its video cameras and glasses had been stolen in what it described as an unprovoked attack. 

The group monitors fox hunts in the South East to ensure hunters are abiding by the Hunting Act 2004 - legislation that outlaws the hunting of foxes with dogs.    A spokesman for the Association said: "Three of our members who were filming the hunt were suddenly confronted and then assaulted by between eight to 10 men, some of whom were masked.   All three people were punched to the ground where the men proceeded to kick and beat them."  Matt Fincham, the head of media relations for the Countryside Alliance, said the people involved in the clash had no association with the hunt. 

Sussex Police confirmed they had arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of assault.  A force spokesman said: "The man, from Haywards Heath, was arrested around 4pm after an allegation of assault was made following confrontations between hunt protestors and members of the Southdown and Eridge Hunt. Earlier in the day, police had been called to Charleston where two people were treated for injuries by ambulance personnel."   The 28-year-old was questioned before being released on bail until December 3.

A more detailed account of the latest incidents has also been uploaded, including a photo [below, right] of one of the sabs injured during the day;-

27-10-12   South Downs Hunt Sabs   Violent attack on hunt saboteurs leaves two in hospital    At the opening meet of the South Down and Eridge fox hunt.... . Three hunt sabs were attacked and severely beaten by ten hired thugs.  The sabs had been following the hunt at Firle, East Sussex and were in the process of filming them hunting a fox when four cross-country quad bikes loaded with heavies arrived, and, without hesitation, attacked them.   The attackers were all wearing balaclavas and carrying weapons.  They launched a sustained and extremely vicious and attack on the trio.   Outnumbered, they stood no chance of defending themselves, and once on the ground were repeatedly kicked and battered with sticks,  One of the sabs was almost unconscious by the time the attack eventually stopped.  During the assault a video camera containing evidence of illegal hunting was stolen.
Even then their ordeal wasn't over,  Covered in blood and in extreme pain they attempted to make their way back to find the other sabs, who were frantically trying to reach them.  As they tried to leave a driver of one quad bike attempted to run them down, as did one of the horse mounted red coats. They were also attacked a few minutes later by the so-called stewards, hired by the Hunt to monitor the sabs,  This only stopped when other sabs arrived at the scene.  By the time they had managed to reach the road the police and an ambulance had arrived.  The news was worrying, the paramedics at the scene suspected that one activist had a fractured skull and broken ribs (thankfully after x rays and a thorough examination in hospital this turned out not to be true).
Just when we thought that the day couldn't get much worse,  Sussex Police decided to get involved.  In their usual impartial manner.  The thugs, now minus balaclavas,  were pointed out.  Unbelievably one officer asked.. "Well, what do you want us to do about it.?".   The sabs suggested that they should at least take details so they would have something to refer back to later, or maybe conduct a search for the video camera.  The officer's response was..."Well, if you want to come to the station and make a statement...we follow it up later"!!!    Can you imagine, say you'd just been attacked in the street by some drunken thug and the police told you they weren't willing to do anything about it at the moment, whilst that thug stood on the other side of the street gloating..  how would you feel??
......  Well I suppose by now you probably thought that would be the end of the days events,  Sadly it was not as by now the Hunt were in sight - the Huntsman off his horse and clearly hunting the line of a fox.  It was at this point the police decided to leave.   Left in an impossible situation, but knowing the three injured sabs were at least safely away and out of the area, the remaining activists swallowed deep and decided to film these events.  Shortly the hunt thugs were back and spoiling for a fight. They started throwing flints at the sabs and then attacked.  This time, with greater numbers they were able to defend themselves,  But even so one sab received a nasty blow to the face resulting in a black eye and nasty gash.  Again the police were called, and, eventually, a different set of police officers arrived, claiming to have no knowledge of previous events.  Initially they claimed to have been informed by the Hunt that it was they who had been attacked by sabs.  The police then started making noises about arresting the sabs....  Luckily, at this point, some video footage taken by sabs was shown to them and, after a while, one of the thugs was arrested.  This all on the opening meet of the season!!

Otis Ferry convicted of fail to provide specimen after another drink driving arrest

27-10-12   Daily Mail      Bryan Ferry's son Otis faces driving ban after refusing breath test and insisting he had just had 'a pint at lunch'      Otis Ferry was yesterday found guilty of failing to provide a breath sample after he was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.   The 29-year-old son of singer Bryan Ferry was stopped in the early hours of the morning as he drove a black Mercedes through Kensington, London.   Police became suspicious after noticing the vehicle's rear windows were down and a woman was smoking out of one of them.  When an officer pulled over Ferry - who famously took part in a pro-hunting protest in the Commons in 2004 - he could ‘smell intoxicating liquor'.   The Old Etonian said he had drunk ‘a pint of cider with his lunch'.    Ferry, who is Master of the South Shropshire Hunt, failed a roadside breath test and was taken to a police station where he refused to take a further test.     West London Magistrates' Court heard that Ferry, of Eaton Mascott near Shrewsbury, was ‘argumentative' and ‘refused to comply with simple instructions'.   Sergeant John Longdon told the court: ‘He seemed to believe the incident was amusing.'     

Ferry was not in court yesterday but was found guilty by Deputy District Judge John Greaves.  He will be sentenced at a later date.   Failure to provide a breath sample carries a maximum fine of £5,000 and a minimum driving ban of one year.

POWAperson adds:- This is the sixth separate conviction or police caution that Ferry is known by POWA to have acquired, two more than any other hunter for whom we have records. He was convicted of drink-driving way over the limit a couple of years ago, but magistrates astonishingly gave him the benefit of the doubt - when a mate claimed he had spiked Ferry's drinks for a laugh - and didn't ban Otis from driving. He is unlikely to escape that this time.   He may have to shell out for a chauffeur, poor lamb.    Ferry is, of course, one of the most fanatical of pro-hunters - and a fine representative of the breed.  Pic left above shows an earlier encounter of Otis' with the boys in blue.

POWA condemns CA advice to Hunts to get schools to 'adopt' a hound

POWA has responded to news that the Countryside Alliance is advising Hunts to inveigle their way into schools to 'educate' the pupils - and, in particular, suggesting they should try to get schools to 'adopt' a hound - with a scathing Press Release. The Western Morning News 29-10-12 and the Western Daily Press 30-10 both quoted extensively from the POWA PR in their story. The original, D.Telegraph, news story and the Release follow:-

27-10-12  Daily Telegraph   Schools encouraged to adopt a hound    Schools are being encouraged to "adopt a hound" as part of a new drive by the hunting lobby to educate children about the sport.     The Countryside Alliance has issued new advice packs to around 200 hunts with a number of suggestions on how to engage people with hunting. The idea is to educate people about hunting with dogs so that they support a repeal of the Hunting Act, which is due to be voted on in Parliament.  The huntsmen, who look after the hounds, are being encouraged to promote the hunt within the community by forming a relationship with the local school.
Ideas include ‘twinning' a hound with a local school. Photographs of the hound could be given to the school and there could even be a visit.  The CA also encourages arranging school visits to the kennels and involving children in the work of the huntsmen, who need volunteers to help walk, feed and muck out the hounds. David Cameron, the Prime Minister, has promised a free vote on the repeal of the Hunting Act during this Parliament.
Lt Gen Barney White-Spunner [left], Executive Chairman of the Countryside Alliance, said supporters have to start explaining and defending hunting now so MPs can feel confident to vote for repeal. "Welcoming newcomers to hunting, as well as promoting hunting activities to local communities, is vital to the sustainability of hunting."
Hunts have recently been targeted by saboteurs, following the badger cull.    Lt Gen White Spunner was confident that the public can be persuaded to support repeal. "We cannot expect hunting to be top of the Government's priorities at a time like this, but tackling the failed Hunting Act is a matter of trust between the Government and the countryside."
However Emma Thomas, Senior Media Relations Officer for the League Against Cruel Sports, said most of the public are already against hunting. She questioned whether parents or schools will want to "adopt a hound." Already there have been reports of parents taking children out of schools in protest at shooting days.

27-10-12    POWA Press Release     Wildlife Protection organisation condemns 'sick' Countryside Alliance advice urging Hunts to get local schools to 'adopt' a hound      Protect Our Wild Animals [POWA] has today reacted with revulsion to news that the Countryside Alliance is urging Hunts to try to get their local schools to 'adopt' a hound, as a means of promoting their 'sport'.      Spokesman Alan Kirby said:-     "Presumably the Hunts, if they are the 'decent and honest' people that DEFRA Secretary of State [and avid promoter of wildlife killing] Owen Paterson once described them as*, will tell the kiddies about how they start culling the hounds they breed very early in their lives, should they have any defect of character or physique that might make them unfit to hunt well with the pack.   They will want to detail how they intensify this winnowing process when young hounds are first trained to kill wildlife in cubbing, etc.  so that any disinclined to show the necessary savagery, or that 'babble', 'run mute', chase non-target quarry or commit any of a host of other 'crimes' will likely get a bullet in the head,  and how they remain liable to this fate if they go similarly astray at any time in their short hunting 'careers'.
Hunts will surely honestly reveal to the schools how hounds are liable to be similarly disposed of should they become seriously ill or injured, and, finally, how, when the dogs reach six or seven - half their natural span - and are getting a bit slow, the great majority are rewarded for their loyal service with a quick execution round the back of the kennels and a trip to the incinerator.
Of all their propaganda,   Huntsmen's protestations of 'love' for their hounds are surely the most vomit-inducing.   In reality, the dogs are nothing more than disposable tools of the trade to them.   POWA calculations indicate that UK Hunts must kill - deliberately - between 5 and 7 thousand of their own hounds every year.
Somehow, we doubt that many children - those not already brainwashed into blood-lust, at least - would find these truths too palatable.  Are there no stunts too sick for the killers-for-fun of the bloodsports fraternity to come up with in their desperation to preserve and promote their cruel and barbaric 'sport'?  If they really wish to gain public acceptance, they should abandon not just their obnoxious attempts to relegalise live quarry hunting for fun, but give up 'cynical subterfuges**', such as 'trail hunting', by which many seek to avoid prosecution while they continue to chase and kill wildlife much as they did before the long-overdue Hunting Act 2004.
Until they sincerely and transparently do so, POWA will continue to call for the Act to be strengthened to fully achieve the ban on hunting wild mammals with dogs which has such overwhelming public support."

 

Notes for editors:-

 

* The Daily Mail reported on a Commons debate on the Hunting Bill in 2001 -  "During the debate one Tory, Owen Paterson, likened supporters of the legislation to Nazis. He claimed only 'honest, decent' people went hunting ... "    Nb. POWA knows of over 300 followers of organised Hunts who have been convicted/ cautioned for criminal offences, almost all hunting-related, since 1990.  About half of these were Hunt staff or officials.

 

** 'Cynical subterfuge':  How Judge Pert scornfully described the attempts by the Huntsman and terrierman of the Fernie Hunt to pretend they had simply been 'trail hunting', when dismissing their appeals against conviction for illegal hunting and interfering with a badger sett, on 14-10-11 [Harborough Mail].  Judges in subsequent cases, eg. the Crawley & Horsham FH and the Meynell FH, have since remarked on hunter evidence in similar terms.

- An article on how Hunts treat their hounds, with calculations, based on information from the Hunts themselves, as to how many hounds UK hunts kill each year, can be found elsewhere on the POWA website.

Hunts take fright at recent convictions and enhanced monitoring

11-10-12   Horse & Hound     Hunts warned to be diligent this season     The Hunting Office is reiterating its message that there will be more covert surveillance by antis this season - so hunts must diligently record evidence of their legal activities.     Stephen Lambert [left], chairman of the Masters of Foxhounds Association (MFHA), told H&H that his colleagues had been working with hunts across the country to ensure "that it becomes second nature to file evidence of trail laying or hunting within the exemptions of the Hunting Act".    Private prosecutions* by animal charities this year have seen members of the Meynell and the Crawley and Horsham convicted of unlawful hunting.   A case brought by the RSPCA against the Heythrop is due to be heard in December.  And the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) has hired eight new investigators since last season, many of whom are former police officers.     "Hunts are taking this very seriously and we are pleased they have accepted that they must be able to defend everything they do and keep a log of their legal activity," said Mr Lambert.   "We must be absolutely punctilious about this and have our ducks in a row."      Mr Lambert's warning was echoed by Tim Bonner [right], campaigns director at the Countryside Alliance.   "LACS' strategy is covert surveillance, which would mean that in most instances, hunts would not even be aware that they were being filmed. The threat of spurious allegations from such a biased source is obvious," he added.

Old Surrey Burstow and West Kent huntsman Mark Bycroft [left] said evidence gathering was not an onerous task.   "It is just like extra paperwork - you get used to it," he told H&H. "We have three teams of trail layers and each one has a camera. At the end of the day you take the memory card out of the camera and put it onto the computer - so you've got the evidence in case of any problem."    Mr Bycroft stressed that this approach was essential to safeguard the future of hunting.   "There's a small minority who will try everything to get you into court,"  he said . "If the case for repeal is presented to the government and more hunts have been up for illegal hunting, then it may not happen," he added.

POWAperson comments:-   With the usual casual hunter disregard for the truth, the writer 'forgets' that both the Meynell and Crawley & Horsham prosecutions were brought by the police/CPS - the first Hunting Act cases taken up by the authorities against organised Hunts for quite some time. This would seem to be significant, indicating that they are finally wising up to the 'cynical subterfuges' being used by Hunts - as would the scathing comments made by judges in the past year concerning the behaviour and evidence of accused hunters. 

Quite how the hunt hierarchy think that having video evidence of trails being laid is going to help them if hunters are then caught on camera hunting live quarry - the minimum requirement for a conviction - is a puzzle.  If they really want to avoid exposure and possible prosecution, then they could try not using fox-based scents, not laying these in areas where foxes are likely to be laying up, not sending hounds into such coverts and not chasing wildlife.   Stephen Lambert is the father of 'Nessie' Lambert [right], a JM of the Heythrop FH, one of four people from that Hunt who are facing trail in December on multiple counts of illegal hunting. 

Zetland FH being investigated by police for illegal fox hunting

 

8-10-12   Teesdale Mercury    Police probe illegal fox hunting claim     POLICE are investigating an allegation of illegal hunting after it was reported a historic hunt had been seen chasing a fox with dogs.     The incident was reported to North Yorkshire Police by a member of the public who claimed to have seen huntsmen pursuing a fox with dogs in Eppleby. 

Officers have spoken to members of the Zetland Hunt about the incident, which is alleged to have happened at around 8am last Tuesday.    Hunt secretary Andrew Spalding denied any illegal behaviour.  He said: "We weren't doing anything wrong. We went out and laid scent trails in the morning and were chasing them. We were hunting within the law." 

A police spokeswoman said the person who reported the incident said they had seen the fox being chased but did not know whether it had been killed or not.   She added that the alleged incident was being investigated.  "It's notoriously difficult to prove unfortunately but we want people to come forward and we will take it from there," she said.     Hunting animals with dogs was banned in 2005 following the introduction of the Hunting Act.    Anyone who saw the alleged incident is asked to call North Yorkshire Police on 101.

Beaufort FH and 'Cadburys' dairy farm in brutal bull calf slaughter

 

7-10-12   Mail on Sunday     Farm that sells milk to Cadbury 'shoots male calves to feed hunt hounds'    Campaigners' undercover footage shows shooting.  Bristol farm shown in film supplies chocolate giant.     Animal rights campaigners have claimed dairy calves only days old are being shot to feed hunt hounds.  Undercover footage shows a young male being shot in the head as it stands on a pile of calf carcasses in a trailer.  The farm in Bristol shown in the film supplies milk to Cadbury, which makes 250million bars of chocolate each year.  Male calves are virtually useless to farmers as they do not provide milk and there is little demand to buy them. Campaigners claim the calf is one of around 100,000 male dairy animals executed shortly after birth each year as there is no market for them.
The undercover film-makers from Viva! claim the calf was shot by a member of Beaufort Hunt.  This was regularly attended by members of the Royal Family including Prince Charles and his sons William and Harry before the 2004 foxhunting ban.  The calf's corpse was later taken away to be fed to the hounds.  The footage was secretly recorded by animal welfare activists who infiltrated a number of farms which supply milk to the confectionery industry. Despite the distressing images, none of the actions seen in the film are illegal. Dairy cows must be impregnated yearly to produce milk for human consumption but many of the male calves born are deemed surplus as demand for veal is limited.  They are shot soon after birth and turned into pet food or other low-value products.
Speaking after the footage was released, Viva! campaigner Kat Affleck said:  ‘Consumers have a right to know the brutal truth that Cadbury's would rather keep quiet, how dairy products are produced. The cruel parental separation and shooting of thousands of male dairy calves hardly fits in with their picturesque pastoral image. One hundred thousand shots ring out on dairy farms every year because of unwanted males. Sadly virtually all milk, has similar provenance. The cruelty is inherent to the industry.'
Ian Farquhar, joint master of the Beaufort Hunt, last night said the Hunt was ‘helping out the farming community' to deal with unwanted calves.  He said:  ‘It is not a question of being cruel. I was a farmer when calves were raised and put into the food chain. But through EU legislation and DEFRA policy, there is no longer any market for them. It has nothing to do with the hunts. It is simply non-viable for the farmers to raise calves. The hunts who still collect calves are doing it purely for the benefit of the farmer.  We do not enjoy it, it is simply a case of the rural community helping each other out.'
A spokesman for Kraft, Cadbury's parent company, said the firm took animal welfare ‘very seriously' and said it was an out-of-the-ordinary incident.  The spokesman said this particular calf had a deformed leg.  He was taken from the farm by a licensed slaughterer from the Beaufort Hunt Kennels and dealt with humanely.  He said: ‘We purchase milk from hundreds of farms across the UK. This video is 18 months old and, at the time it was released, we said we took animal welfare very seriously and nothing has changed.'
The story was also covered by the Sunday Express

 

Sabs claim were assaulted by Rockwood Harriers - seven hurt, camera stolen

8-10-12    animalrightsuk.org    We spent Saturday following a team-up of hunt saboteurs from the Midlands and Northern regions around Wortley, north of Sheffield, to monitor and disrupt any illegal hunting committed by the Rockwood Harriers, a pack that hunts hares rather than foxes.    We arrived and stood alongside the hunt, we were amazed to see that that the hunt did not know how to react to the presence of hunt saboteurs.  As a result the Hunt spent an hour of their time waiting around for an hour in an attempt to come up with a plan to ditch the sabs and carry on with their bloodsport.
After an hour's planning the hunt made a rather feeble attempt to bolt off a great distance to lose the saboteurs and hunt in a nearby valley out of sight from any roads.  This plan did not go well for the Hunt as the saboteurs swiftly relocated the Hunt.  The sabs took a tactical advantage point in a nearby field with no present wildlife, then used a combination of voice calls and horn blows to take control of the hounds [left], keeping them a safe distance from the huntsmen and wildlife.
Despite repeated attempts to retrieve the pack for the purposes of killing, two ‘whippers in’ (hunt staff with the responsibility of controlling the hounds) were sent to remove the hounds from the sabs control.  After their best efforts, the ‘whippers in’ soon realized that the sabs were far better at controlling the hounds than their own hunt staff and gave up.   After over half an hour of no killing, the Hunt sent five rather large hunt staff to force the sabs into losing control of the hounds.  The hunt staff pinned a female sab against a brick wall, with help from the other sabs she was able to escape and the sabs made a tactical retreat back to their vehicles.
The sabs quickly relocated the hunt in a nearby field, shortly after making their way down a footpath the sabs were ambushed and blocked in by vehicles, riders and hunt support in an unprovoked attack (or provoked by good hunt sabotage).  A hunt supporter (yes we know who you are, charges will be made) snatched a video camera off a female sab, once the hunt BELIEVED that there was no active cameras they began their violent attack.  Whilst the supporter was throwing punches and kicking a female sab half his size who was already knocked on the floor, a hunt official began whacking sabs with his riding crop whilst still on his horse.    As more hunt staff and support joined in the sabs were forced to make a tactical retreat through a field.  Once on the road they were quickly met by police.  The police offered first aid supplies but made no attempt to question the perpetrators as they rode by even when identified by the sabs.  Two sabs received serious injuries needing hospital treatment (one has broken tooth and nose [above right], the other received a head wound needing stitches) whilst 5 other sabs received bad but less serious injury.
One of the hunt saboteur groups now need a new camera as it was stolen, it is a vital piece of equipment needed to log illegal hunting activity - Hunts also tend to be discouraged from killing when cameras are present.
Nb.  Hunter names given in original report removed above to protect the possibly guilty!

Cub-hunting convict Greenall resigns as Chairman of Meynell FH

5-10-12   Burton Mail      Hunt chairman resigns after 'cubbing' conviction    THE Chairman of a renowned Hunt has stepped down from his role following his conviction for illegally pursuing fox cubs with hounds.  Master of the Meynell and South Staffordshire Hunt Johnny Greenall, has been convicted of breaking the law on hunting with dogs.  The Honourable Johnny Greenall [left], son of the Baron of Daresbury, announced his decision in the latest newsletter of The Meynell & South Staffordshire Hunt, citing the court case as his reason. Greenall and Glen Morris, of Ludgate Street, Tutbury, were secretly filmed by anti-hunt campaigners trying to kill foxes near Hilton.  Greenall, 52, was fined £3,515 and Morris, of Ludgate Street, Tutbury, was ordered to pay £515.
Footage played at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court showed members of the hunt surrounding a wood at Suffield Farm, in Sutton on the Hill, in October last year.  The hounds entered the wood to hunt young foxes in a sport known as ‘cubbing'.  One fleeing fox was scared back into the wood by the surrounding huntsmen, who were clapping their hands.   Hunting foxes with dogs was made illegal in the 2004 Hunting Act.     The National Trust later banned the hunt from riding on its land, which includes Calke Abbey, near Ticknall, following a petition urging the trust to remove access rights for the Hunt.
In the newsletter, Greenall said of the court case: "This was a disappointing day, not only personally but for the Hunt. However, there are lessons to be learned and I am standing down so that the result of the court case doesn't overshadow or provide a distraction to the new season and our law-abiding activities."   He added that he would stay on as a trustee of the Hunt and in the meantime, current vice-chairman Richard Froggatt would take on chairmanship until May 1, 2013. The committee has approved the appointment of Richard Parrott as chairman when he steps down as master at the end of the season.

POWAperson adds:- There is not a hint of contrition or acknowledgement from Greenall that he, and indeed the rest of the Meynell, were caught red-handed flouting the law and engaging in one of the most cruel and barbaric aspects of fox hunting.    The Ashbourne News Telegraph originally broke the news of his resignation on 12-9-12, additionally revealing that JM, and new Chairman-elect, Richard Parrot, had had the nerve to complain that the NT had not contacted them before withdrawing the licences!  They really don't get it, do they?    The article above states that Greenall is the son of [the late] Baron Daresbury. Correct, but more pertinently, he is the younger brother of the current Lord Daresbury.  Daresbury, as Chairman of the MFHA, let down the side in 2004 when he wrote to Hunt Chairmen suggesting they urge 'their' farmers to provide more breeding habitat for foxes, as there weren't enough to hunt in many areas, thereby holing the 'pest control' argument for fox hunting below the waterline.

 

Hunts mobilised in desperate attempt to retain Corby seat for Conservatives

2-10-12   Horse & Hound     Hunts urged to support Conservative candidate in Corby by-election    Hunts are being urged to support the Conservative candidate in the Corby by-election - to ensure that a  pro-repeal MP is returned.    The by-election, to be held on 15 November, was triggered by the surprise resignation of Tory MP Louise Mensch.  Corby, Northants, is a marginal seat and it is feared Labour could overturn her 1,951 majority. George Bowyer of Vote-OK - the lobby group that supports pro-repeal MPs - told H&H he wanted hunting people to take an "active role" in helping Tory candidate Christine Emmett.  "We are organising people to go and campaign for the Conservatives," he said.  "All the local hunts have received, or will soon receive, information about how to help."
Christine Emmett [right], a local businesswoman and county councillor, told H&H that she supported repeal.  "It is quite clear why the ban was brought in and why it should be repealed," she said.    Labour candidate Andy Sawford [left] is not thought to support repeal.  His office did not return H&H's calls.  Labour is currently 10 points ahead of the Tories in the polls.    Conservative blogger Tim Montgomerie said Mrs Emmett was a very good candidate, but warned she would have "an uphill struggle to keep the seat blue".  Labour and the UK Independence Party (UKIP) have been campaigning intensively.  Journalist James Delingpole has also thrown his hat in the ring, on an anti-windfarm platform.
George Bowyer urged hunt supporters to do all they could to help. "Hunting people need to regain the sense of the outrage that we all felt in 2002-03," he said. "Every time they go hunting under the new regime, they should think, ‘This is outrageous, it should be repealed'. In order to get repeal, we need to get the right people in," he added.

UPDATE   Vote OK's efforts were all for nothing, as, on November 15th, anti-hunt Labour candidate Andy Sawford romped home, his vote being nearly double that of the Conservative Christine Emmett.

POWAperson adds:-  Vote OK is essentially a Tory front group, with the sole purpose of mobilising hunters to assist with campaigning in  marginal constituencies where an anti [usually Labour] is contesting the seat with a pro-hunt candidate [almost always Conservative].  They have been operating since 2001, often calling in hunter support from many miles away. Hunters are instructed to canvass in normal clothes and not to mention hunting [usually a vote-loser] on the doorstep.  Vote OK has claimed an influential role in the outcome of some parliamentary contests, but there is really no way to verify this.    Whatever, it seems rather unlikely that they and the local Hunts will have anything to smile about after the by-election.  Labour look likely to regain the seat with something to spare.  Their candidate's father is a former Labour MP, Phil Sawford, who was always reliably anti-hunt.  We assume his son is too.  POWAperson predicts that the Lib-Dems will suffer another electoral humiliation and that the Conservatives could suffer a significant haemorrage of votes to UKIP in Corby.
The fragrant Louise Mensch, who resigned her seat for personal reasons, was pro-hunt, so her replacement by an anti will swing the balance of votes in the House of Commons on repeal even further against the hunting lobby, making it even more unlikely that Mr. Cameron will try to bring forward the measure in this Parliament.

 

 

Cumbria hunt supporters ambush, attack, pursue LACS investigators

Ledbury FH chase two foxes in illegal cub-hunting, claim sabs
Say second fox filmed fleeing down only hole of badger sett left open by hunters

26-9-12   HSA Press Release     Ledbury Hunt caught at blocked badger sett      This morning hunt saboteurs, from the Three Counties and Coventry groups, witnessed the Ledbury Hunt [right] chase a fox down an active badger sett that had had most of its entrances blocked by hunt staff.  The hunt had met at Redmarley, Gloucestershire, and were clearly observed to be illegally cub hunting.  They had already chased an adult fox and only the intervention of saboteurs had enabled the animal to escape.  They then chased a second fox and a saboteur filmed the hounds follow it to an active badger sett.   All but one of the entrances had been blocked with logs and soil and fresh spade marks could be seen where the sett had been disturbed. When they realised they were being monitored the hunt staff quickly removed their hounds from the scene.
Lee Moon, spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, stated: "At a time when badgers are such a hot topic, particularly in Gloucestershire, it is incredible to witness the arrogance of the hunting community. They not only illegally chase foxes but are also illegally interfering with badger setts. With the increased public interest in these issues due to the imminent badger cull, which has led to an influx of new members, we look forward to being able to gather more evidence of illegal hunting and save more persecuted wild life."

 

POWAPerson adds:-    Further to the above report, it is believed that the sett in question is WITHIN the West Gloucestershire badger cull zone.  POWA has been sent the following information;-  "The Coventry and Three Counties hunt saboteurs were observing the Ledbury Hunt yesterday in Gloucestershire when they found this large active badger set that had all but one of the entrances blocked up with fresh soil.    They had observed members of the Ledbury hunt 'on point' round the perimeter of a covert near to the badger set and also filmed hounds running 'on cry' after a fox.    Although the sabs concerned explained the hunting activity to the TV crew during their interview, ITV chose not to mention this and cut any reference to the hunting activity that the sabs had filmed.   I understand that the crew were out with the sabs to see how they intend to try to protect the badgers from the cull and how they are surveying the setts that are located within the cull zone.."    We have been further informed that sab footage is currently being examined by the authorities with a view to prosecution, so will not be available for public viewing anytime soon.  The ITV West Country News film of the blocked sett referred to above can be viewed here.

In February, Viva! drew attention to a marked correlation between bovine Tb hotspots and intensity of organised hunting activity. Whilst any such correlation does not necessarily imply a causal link, it could certainly be worth investigating further - which, to our knowledge, has not been done. Viva! suggested that the infection could be spread via animals used for hunting and vehicles crisscrossing large areas of land.  See item dated 25-2-12 on this page for full story on Viva's claims.  Pic above left is one of the blocked holes of the sett in question.

Avon Vale FH 5 face Hunting & Badger Act charges in case brought by RSPCA
One JM to plead to interfering with badger sett, all other charges denied
Former senior Master Jonathan Seed among those charged

25-9-12   Wiltshire Gazette and Herald      Former huntmaster vows to fight badger sett charges    Five members of the Avon Vale Hunt, including a Wiltshire councillor, have appeared in court charged with breaching the Hunting Act 2004.   Joshua Charlesworth, 18, from East Tytherton; Benjamin Pethers, 28, from Hoopers Pool, Southwick; Stuart Radbourne, 28, from The Common, Bromham; Paul Tylee-Hinder, 58, of Quemerford, Calne and Jonathon Seed, 54, of Chittoe Heath, Bromham all denied the breach when they appeared before magistrates in Chippenham on Tuesday.   Four of them denied an additional charge of intefering with a badger sett, though Mr Radbourne, one of the joint hunt masters, indicated a guilty plea to that charge.
The case has been brought by the RSPCA and refers to incidents alleged to have taken place on March 6 this year at Stockley Hollow, near Calne.  The bench heard that the case could not proceed on Tuesday so it has been adjourned until November 9 when a date for the trial will be set.  The five all appeared on summons so the question of bail did not arise.   Mr Seed, Wiltshire councillor for Summerham and Seed and a former hunt master, said he intended to fight the allegation against him.  In a statement outside court he said: "This is a private prosecution by the RSPCA and I believe that is has been commenced for political reasons as their stance against hunting is well known and it is of great significance that Wiltshire Police, after advice from the Crown Prosecution Service, declined to take this case forward. In my opinion these proceedings are an abuse of the private prosecution system which needs to be addressed in due course. I totally deny the allegations of any offence against the Hunting Act and there is simply no evidence of either myself or any of the other defendants or anyone else being involved in any illegal hunting on the day in question."

Surrey Union FH hounds hit by car during 'illegal' hunt, claims HSA

 

Weston & Banwell JM/Huntsman trial to start on October 31st

POWA understands that the prosecution of George Milton, who has been in charge of the Somerset-based Hunt for many years, is now to commence on October 31st.  Taunton Magistrates Court. He is facing two charges under the Hunting Act and another under the Protection of Badgers Act. 

 

POWAPerson adds:-   The W&B is a small Hunt, but has one eminent regular rider - the Hon. Dido Harding [left], who is CEO of telecoms giant TalkTalk.   The daughter of Lord Harding, she grew up on the family pig-farm in Dorset. She studied alongside David Cameron at Oxford University in the late '80s.  Dido is married to the Conservative MP for Weston-Super-Mare, John Penrose. She is a keen horse racer and owned the horse that won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1998.    Dido participated in the celebrity ladies race at Goodwood in 2011.  She was described in a Telegraph article about the race as '...... a consummate horse-wonan who was as feared in her time in the ladies' changing tents of West Country point-to-points as Boadecia.'    The article's author was none other than Cameron's pal Charlie Brooks, husband of Rebecca, who, with her, is facing charges of perverting the course of justice relating to the News International hacking inquiry.

24-9-12   Daily Telegraph     Tony Blair accidentally supported the ban on fox hunting after the Labour Party got themselves "in a muddle" and he "misspoke" on television, Jack Straw has disclosed       Mr Blair apologised to the then-Home Secretary after inadvertently supporting a ban on foxhunting while appearing on Question Time, Mr Straw [left] has claimed. In an extract of his memoirs published today,   Mr Straw disclosed he had felt the debate on hunting was a "nonsense issue" which was "best left alone".  Although Mr Blair agreed, he claimed, he was "put on the spot" while answering questions on live television and unexpectedly announced he would support a ban.
In his book, entitled 'Last Man Standing', Mr Straw wrote:  "I remember the 1997 election that brought us into power. We in the Labour Party had got ourselves in a muddle over foxhunting. To me, banning it was a nonsense issue for a serious party making a determined bid for government after 18 years in opposition. It was best left alone. But it crept into the manifesto in a suitably ambiguous form - until Tony, who didn't think it important either, went on Question Time, was put on the spot and announced he'd support a ban. I went to see him the next day to ask him why. ‘I'm very sorry, Jack,' he said. ‘I misspoke.'"
Mr Blair [below right] later confessed the Hunting Bill was one of the measures he most regretted during his time as Prime Minister, admitting he did not know enough about the debate.  The ban became one of the most controversial laws introduced by his administration, prompting mass marches in London and even an invasion of Parliament by protesters.   Speaking in 2010, Mr Blair said: "If I'd proposed solving the pension problem by compulsory euthanasia for every fifth pensioner I'd have got less trouble for it. By the end of it, I felt like the damn fox."

POWAPerson says:-     Most of the assertions by Jack Straw as reported above appear to be an attempt to rewrite history.   The Labour Party as a whole, rather than the elitist cabal at the top,  was in no 'muddle' whatsoever about hunting.   An outright ban [supported by around three-quarters of the public] had been Party policy for many years and a motion reaffirming that ambition had been passed nem-con at Conference in 1993.   Nobody was in the slightest doubt what the 1997 Manifesto Commitment to a free vote meant - that a Government Bill banning hunting had to follow the inevitable heavy backing for abolition from the Commons.
Labour's accompanying 'Manifesto for Animals' made the intent to ban hunting even more explicit.   In the event, Michael Foster MP drew No.1 position in the Private Members Bill ballot after the 1997 landslide victory and readily agreed to introduce a banning Bill, thus saving the Government the trouble of having to write its own legislation.  The Foster Bill passed its Second Reading by the largest ever-margin for any PMB.    But it would have outlawed live quarry hunting far more effectively than did the grudgingly-conceded Hunting Act 7 years later, and that, for some in the Labour hierarchy, was its entire problem.
Jack Straw was then Home Secretary, the Home Office, in those days, being the responsible Department.  We knew he was a keen rider and close to the horse-racing fraternity which, obviously, itself has close links with the hunters.  Though he had never voiced any real opposition to the ban in public, it seems likely that he was the prime mover in the dilution and then the killing off of the Foster Bill.  POWA's John Bryant, then with LACS, was primary adviser to Mr. Foster on the Bill  and says   "It was Jack Straw who hoodwinked Michael Foster into amending his Bill so that the 'offence' became "hunting a wild mammal with a dog" instead of "causing or permitting a dog to hunt a wild mammal" - hence 'Sorry guv, I know my pack of hounds chased a fox and tore it to pieces, but it was an accident'.
The subsequent demise of the Bill was blamed on Tory opposition in the Lords, but it was always clear that , so huge was the Commons majority for the measure,  it could have been steered through with help from the Government, or even taken over by them as their own Bill.  A ban could have been in place by 1999.  Instead, they allowed it to be killed off and Straw kicked the issue into the long grass by commissioning the lengthy Burns Inquiry, presumably hoping it would produce adequate excuses to enable the Government to drop any ban plans, much as the Scott-Henderson report had done for Atlee's post-war administration.   Doubtless to Mr. Straw's chagrin, however, Burns failed to oblige.    With the mass of Labour backbenchers, and some Cabinet members, still baying for a ban, Straw continued delaying tactics with the Tripartite Bill.   When the Commons once more voted overwhelmingly for outlawing hunting,  he then adopted the cynical tactic of introducing a banning Bill only months before the 2001 election was due, which meant it could not possibly become law.
As regards Blair's public commitment to a hunting ban, many of us still have letters written by him supporting that policy from both and after and before his Question Time statement.   Perhaps he thought he meant it then - who knows what went on inside that slippery and convoluted mind?  But we do know the numbers mobilised on to the streets by the Countryside Alliance [left] badly scared him, even though most were motivated primarily by discontent over a period of very low farm-gate prices, which the CA skilfully misrepresented as a mass rural uprising against a hunting ban.    And we do know that Blair was ever mightily impressed by the rich and powerful and reluctant to ever seriously upset them.  And we do know that he colluded in delaying the inevitable as long as possible and endeavoured to make any banning legislation as anodyne and ineffective as he could, even claiming later in his own memoirs that he had 'sabotaged' the Hunting Act and told the then Policing Minister, Hazel Blears, to ensure it wasn't enforced.
Jack Straw, by this time, was Foreign Secretary, with no direct control of policy on hunting, but he was still a central figure in Blair's inner-circle 'sofa cabinet', so it's very possible that he continued to play a role in undermining the efforts to obtain an effective and readily enforceable ban on the hunting of live quarry with dogs.  He remains a very senior  'elder statesman' in Labour circles, and one can only hope that he is no longer able to exercise such a baleful and negative influence in the modern Party hierarchy's attitudes and policy towards the hunting issue.

 

 

..... 29th August - Minehead Harriers whipper-in died from stroke after hunting accident, says inquest

..... 28th August - LACS Investigators call on police to protect them from hunters' intimidation

..... 28th August - Police publish footage of Coniston FH supporter assaulting sab

..... 11th August - No arrest after Surrey Union man filmed riding at/threatening to kill girl sab

..... 9th August - Meynell FH Huntsman and terrierman convicted after sabs filmed cub hunting   

..... 6th August - Kent's West Street Tickham FH is forced to disband